Two Baptist chaplains said they were forced out of a Veterans Affairs chaplain training program after they refused orders to stop quoting the Bible and to stop praying in the name of Jesus.

When the men objected to those demands, they were subjected to ridicule and harassment that led to one of the chaplains leaving the program and the other being ejected, according to a federal lawsuit filed Friday.

The Conservative Baptist Association of America is suing Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki; the groups suit alleges two of its chaplains were openly ridiculed by the leader of the San Diego-based VA-DOD Clinical Pastoral Education Center program.

Not only was the treatment these men received inappropriate, it was also a violation of federal law and the religious freedom guarantees of the First Amendment, said John Wells, an attorney representing the Colorado-based denomination.

No American choosing to serve in the armed forces should be openly ridiculed for his Christian faith, he said, calling it one of the most blatant cases of religious discrimination he has ever seen.

"The United States Constitution addresses the issue of religion in two places: in the First Amendment, and the Article VI prohibition on religious tests as a condition for holding public office. The First Amendment prohibits the federal government from making a law "respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof". This provision was later expanded to state and local governments, through the Incorporation of the Fourteenth Amendment."

"We live in a very litigious society, where almost anyone can sue another for virtually any offense, real or imagined. Department of Defense (DOD) policy makers are not immune from such litigation. In fact, there are growing numbers of persons and advocacy groups in the United States actively seeking to remove from public lifeincluding in the armed servicesvirtually all symbols and expression of religion and Americas religious heritage by advocating a strict separation of church and state that is counter-constitutional." These same groups advocate abortion on demand; inappropriate sex education for our youngsters; push welfafe, food stamps and dependency on all uninformed citizens.

Separation of Church & State was an a concept advocated by Thomas Jefferson the latter phrase lavishly and inappropriately used by ill-informed or pandering politicians as well as others on the far left and right. Remind your elected of the coming election and their duty to their sworn oaths of office.

Very true. The concept as taken today is perverted. Free exercise as Constitutionally conceived included people working IN the government as long as they did not presume to speak FOR the government. To an atheist begging for Christ to get out of his face that seems like a distinction without a difference, but that’s the atheist’s problem, not a problem with reality.

5
posted on 11/12/2013 12:52:32 PM PST
by HiTech RedNeck
(The Lion of Judah will roar again if you give him a big hug and a cheer and mean it. See my page.)

They will eat the consequences of rejecting the Lord. Not might, will. Now God, being more gracious than any of us could dream, still won’t damn them while on this mortal coil. But He will sternly warn by cutting off the blessings they had enjoyed when they were nearer to Him.

8
posted on 11/12/2013 12:54:39 PM PST
by HiTech RedNeck
(The Lion of Judah will roar again if you give him a big hug and a cheer and mean it. See my page.)

The Conservative Baptist Association of America is suing Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki; the groups suit alleges two of its chaplains were openly ridiculed by the leader of the San Diego-based VA-DOD Clinical Pastoral Education Center program. Not only was the treatment these men received inappropriate, it was also a violation of federal law and the religious freedom guarantees of the First Amendment, said John Wells, an attorney representing the Colorado-based denomination. No American choosing to serve in the armed forces should be openly ridiculed for his Christian faith, he said, calling it one of the most blatant cases of religious discrimination he has ever seen.

Still thinking about that. We haven’t had any ship-to-ship combat for quite some time now. I wonder if that chaplain’s prayer would change if he heard someone else’s 5” cross his deck? I’d be willing to bet a brand new bible that his foxhole prayer would mention Jesus.

In related news, the Obama Regime is outlawing the use of “stand your ground” principles for the United States Military. They will henceforth be required to run away when confronted with an attack using deadly force.

For purposes of determining how much retreat is required, it shall be assumed that retreat, to be reasonable, must be completely from any country territory other than the United States, and from within the United States, it must be to a point at least 100 miles from the coast or an international boundary.

As an Army chaplain, I had the unusual privilege of being aboard a naval vessel at various times between 1987-89. During those times, I was asked to have that evening prayer, and not once did anyone complain about the name of Jesus being used. Times have certainly changed.

27
posted on 11/12/2013 7:25:13 PM PST
by xzins
( Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! Those who truly support our troops pray for victory!)

“Its pretty damned obvious that the current administration is actively seeking to eliminate Christianity.”

It’s an old tool of Satan. And it doesn’t work. History demonstrates that the Church will grow when persecuted. Full of Believers who just don’t care about what anyone thinks, other than the LORD Himself.

Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.